Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Chapter XXII: Operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Mississippi, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. March 4-June 10, 1862.
Lieut. Col. Robert N. Scott, Ed.

Captain: In accordance with the orders just received, I hereby submit to you, for the information of Brigadier-General Morgan, the following report of the march of the troops under my command from the Moss house, Cumberland Ford, to this point:

The march began on the 7th instant, at 4 o'clock a. m., when I moved the Twenty-sixth Brigade, composed of the Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, Twenty-second Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, and the Forty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers, a distance of 8 miles. This march, as well as those on the following days, was necessarily short, in consequence of the great difficulties encountered in moving the wagon train over very steep hills and very bad roads. On the following day I marched the brigade 13 miles. On this march I had to detail 300 men to assist the wagon-train. The last 2 of the 8 miles marched on the 9th were full of difficulties, and the train was halted for eight hours, during which time the brigade was employed in constructing an almost entirely new line of road. On reaching camping ground that night I found myself in such a narrow gorge, and so near the mountain, that I deemed it common prudence to send forward six companies to take possession of all the defiles leading into that part of Powell's Valley opposite Wilson's and Rogers' Gaps. I intrusted this duty to Lieutenant-Colonel Pardee, of the Forty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers, who performed it in a manner which gave proof of his energy and military skill. When the enemy's pickets attempted, early in the morning, to crown the mountain with their vedettes, they were repulsed with a loss of 3 horses, which they left in their hurried retreat.

The march on the 10th instant offered few difficulties, and at 8 o'clock a. m. the brigade was encamped at the foot of the mountain. With as little delay as possible the work of clearing the heavy blockade was begun and completed under the able direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Monroe, Twenty-second Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, by 2 o'clock next day, and on the evening of that day the Twenty-sixth Brigade bivouacked on the south side of Rogers' Gap. The halt made here, and the partial countermarch which took place, being matters which concern the division, are out of my province, and need not form part of the report. The skirmishes which took place betwixt the enemy's cavalry and the pickets of my brigade were not of sufficient importance to demand more than a passing notice.

On the 18th instant I resumed the march, the force under my command [73] being increased by 50 cavalry, Foster's battery of eight 10 pounder rifled guns, the siege battery of two 30-pounders, and two 20-pounders, rifled. The enemy being supposed to have taken up a strong position at Thomas' farm, and my orders being to attack him before General Carter, who was marching on a parallel but longer line than the one I was operating on, could debouch, I moved with the amount of celerity which I deemed would enable me to attain the object in view. I reached the point indicated, but found the enemy had retreated early in the morning. After reposing the troops I moved on slowly, to enable the cavalry advance guard to examine the woods, which were constantly presenting themselves on my flanks, and from under whose cover I had been informed I might at any moment expect an attack from the enemy posted in ambush. Finally, after a march of nearly 20 miles, I reached Cumberland Gap, which I found the enemy had evacuated during the previous night, its rear guard having left only three hours before the arrival of my advance guard. Before sunset the flags of the Twenty-sixth Brigade flaunted over the farfamed fortifications, and Foster's battery, firing a salute of thirty-four guns, told in loud tones to the persecuted people of East Tennessee that they were free, for once more the Stars and Stripes were near to protect and encourage them in their loyalty. Thus, by this able and daring strategic move, the chain of victory is now without solution of continuity on the Kentucky line from Columbus to Louisa.

In concluding this report it becomes my most pleasing duty to request you to mention to the general commanding that the many difficulties and fatigues of this march were met, endured, and overcome by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates under my command with a cheerful spirit and an energy of action which speaks well for their patriotism and soldierlike qualities.

The officers of my personal staff displayed great activity, perseverance, and intelligence in seeing my orders carried out, and it is a matter of satisfaction to me to find this opportunity of making prominent mention of Lieut. Cushman Cunningham, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. George W. Stein, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Voluntet rs, acting aide-de-camp; Lieut. Joseph D. Stubbs, Forty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers, acting brigade quartermaster, to whose untiring activity in bringing up subsistence, notwithstanding all difficulties, I feel I owe much of the power which enabled the Twenty-sixth Brigade to keep ahead of the division without at any moment causing hinderance to the brigades in rear. Lieutenant Stubbs appears to acquire additional strength with every increase of his labors and additional courage to overcome difficulties as they accumulate before him.

The duties of the cavalry advance guard were well performed, under the direction of Captain Roper, of Colonel Munday's regiment. Captain Roper possesses in an eminent degree the qualities which form a good light cavalry officer.

Col. Daniel W. Lindsey, Twenty-second Regiment Kentucky Volunteers; Col. Lionel A. Sheldon, Forty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers; and Lieut. Col. George W. Bailey, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, were at all times full of zeal and ever ready to execute any of my orders. I must regret that the sudden evacuation of the Gap should have deprived these officers of an opportunity which would ever have redounded to their honor.

Lieut. Col. Don A. Pardee, Forty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and Lieut. Col. George W. Monroe, Twenty-second Regiment Kentucky [74] Volunteers, have already been honorably noticed in the body of this report.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant